According to Sustainable Event Certification (SEC), the organisation that provides training, advice and certification to BS8901, many of the ambiguities within the original version have been cleared up, and some of the confusing clauses, such as assessing options for improved event sustainability, removed.  

In addition, the guidance notes that were dotted throughout the standard have been moved to a set of annexes at the back of the document, and the requirement for organisations to construct their own maturity matrix has been taken out.  

“We have been working with a large number of organisations from across the industry over the past 12 months, some of which have achieved certification to BS8901,” said SEC managing director Tim Sunderland.

“However, we found the standard quite difficult to work with and consequently a number of modifications have been made to make it clearer and easier to understand.”

A number of organisers, venues and suppliers have taken up the standard since it was issued in November 2007, and, most recently, the London Organising Committee for the Olympic Games announced that it expects its suppliers to be working towards implementation of BS8901.

The new version is accessible online until the end of May. In addition, the SEC is offering free BS8901 certification checks to help organisations determine how they currently compare against the standard.

The primary point of interest to those running event businesses, and actually the costliest part of the new Government budget, will be the increase to 40% in tax relief to businesses on capital spending. It lasts for one year until (hopefully) the economy has made its way out of the recession.

There will be extra aid for loss-making companies which will be able to reclaim more taxes paid in the last three years until November 2010.

Fuel duty is to rise by 2p a litre from September, then by 1p a litre above indexation each April for the next four years. Particularly pertinent for an industry that is constantly on the move, especially on the roadshow and logistics side.

For those event businesses looking to get a new fleet of cars, from next month, and until March 2010, motorists will get £2,000 discount on new cars if they trade in cars older than 10 years. The government will provide £1,000 with the motor industry expected to provide the other half.

Importantly for the whole industry, growth is expected to pick up in 2010, expanding by 1.25%. The economy is forecast to shrink 3.5% in 2009.

For the latest event industry jobs visit www.live-recruitment.co.uk

Farnborough International Airshow (FIA) was originally scheduled to take place from 16-22 July 2012, but organisers were worried this could cause difficulty for exhibitors and visitors in sourcing accommodation and other services with the Olympic Games kicking off the following week, on 27 July.

Traditionally the Royal International Air Tattoo (RIAT) takes place on the weekend before the FIA so that military chiefs and senior aerospace figures can attend both.

As a result, both shows will now be moved forward one week - the RIAT taking place from 7-8 July 2012, followed by the FIA from 9-15 July.

Speaking of the new arrangements, FIL chief executive Shaun Ormrod said: “It is vital that the services we require to produce the airshow are readily available and by moving the dates forward by a week we can be sure that they will be.

“We are also aware that many of our visitors will want to take in all three of these fantastic summer events and we hope that this will make it easier to do that. We are extremely grateful to RIAT for accommodating us to achieve this conclusion.”

The London Summit on stability, growth and jobs is now underway at Excel London. Bringing together leaders of the world’s advanced and emerging economies, including the G20, and representatives of international financial institutions, the summit will highlight Excel London’s status as a premier meetings venue.

Commenting on the London summit, Excel London managing director David Pegler said: “We have been steadily attracting an increasing number of international and high-profile clients to our venue, many of which have rated events at Excel as their most successful events with the highest delegate and visitor numbers. The selection of Excel London as the venue for the London Summit is testament to our international standing as a premier meeting and events destination.”

Pegler added: “This validates our £160m investment in expanding our venue exhibition hall capacity and building the London International Convention Centre at Excel.”

In spring 2010, Excel will open a 5,000-seat auditorium, a banqueting hall for 3,000 and 17 meeting rooms for up to 2,000 delegates.